The prestigious Commonwealth Chess Championship 2026 is officially in full swing. Hosted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka on behalf of FIDE and the Commonwealth Chess Association, the premier event is currently taking place from May 16 to May 26, 2026, in the coastal city of Kalutara, Sri Lanka.
The tournament has transformed the city into a vibrant hub for international sportsmanship, drawing an impressive field of 96 participants from 13 distinct Commonwealth nations.
The strength of this year’s championship is highlighted by a formidable delegation of master-level tacticians. A total of 38 titleholders, including 8 Grandmasters, are actively fighting for the top honors, promising high-intensity encounters across every round.
The tournament structure follows a 9-round Swiss system with a standard classical time control of 90 minutes for the entire game, plus a 30-second increment per move starting from the very first move.
With separate titles on the line across various age categories, the event provides a massive battleground for veteran grandmasters alongside ambitious junior players chasing norms. Following the inaugural ceremonies and technical meetings, the competitive rounds are currently being held daily at 4:00 PM, with the final round scheduled for Monday, May 25.
Beyond the ultimate glory of becoming the Commonwealth Champion, players are fighting for a total cash prize fund of $8,000 USD, with $1,500 USD guaranteed for the overall open winner and $1,000 USD for the top finisher in the women’s category. Medals and certificates will also be awarded across the Under-8 through Under-18 junior categories, as well as the Seniors (Over 50) division.
Participants:
1 GM Iniyan Pa IND 2587
2 IM Vaz Ethan IND 2521
3 GM Mitrabha Guha IND 2516
4 GM Rohith Krishna S IND 2493
5 GM Srihari L R IND 2452
6 GM Shyaam Nikhil P IND 2446
7 IM Goutham Krishna H IND 2433
8 IM Liyanage Ranindu Dilshan SRI 2429
9 GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. IND 2404
10 GM Venkatesh M.R. IND 2344
11 FM Sakline Mostafa Sajid BAN 2316
12 WFM Arshiya Das IND 2296
13 WGM Gomes Mary Ann IND 2258
14 CM Boggarapu Kritan SCO 2252
15 FM Lim Zhuo Ren MAS 2250
16 FM Islam Khandaker Aminul BAN 2222
17 FM Siva Kumar Nirish Kumar MAS 2185
18 Induwara T H D Thisarindu SRI 2180
19 CM Sivathanujan S SRI 2162
20 WFM Sreekarthika Velmurugan SGP 2151
21 CM Wijerathna Vinuka Dihain SRI 2111
22 FM Weerasekara Dishal Nimsara SRI 2077
23 WFM Warsia Khusbu BAN 2077
24 Rayan Rashid Mugdho BAN 2072
25 WFM Nivedita V C IND 2053
26 Leong Jyuin Pang Alexx Xander SGP 2002
27 Jayasooriya Ruvin Sandharu SRI 1998
28 WCM Rebecca Jesumarian IND 1987
29 AIM Dias A A T Nethsara SRI 1979
30 WFM Sanudula K M Dahamdi SRI 1974
31 WFM Marium Fatima IND 1970
32 WCM Ananya Raman IND 1969
33 CM Amarasinghe A A C B SRI 1962
34 WFM Yash Jyoti Bir IND 1957
35 WCM Ahmed Walijah BAN 1953
36 WFM Fang Kun SGP 1944
37 Sarukkalige Chanaka Praneeth SRI 1939
38 WCM Chua Jia-Tien MAS 1927
39 Rajendran Kartikeyan MAS 1921
40 Giles Benjamin NZL 1916
41 Karani Ezekiel KEN 1915
42 WFM Newansa M Esandi SRI 1895
43 Bhavithran S SRI 1881
44 Ncethelo Bongolethu RSA 1880
45 AFM Perumpuli Arachchi Lithula Raveesh SRI 1879
46 Weerasinghe W Yasiru SRI 1873
47 Masakorala Sethika Dinsitha SRI 1868
48 AIM Meise Keagen RSA 1860
49 CM Ebenezer Joseph IND 1849
50 WCM Wijesuriya G P Y SRI 1835
51 AIM Janarthanan Kethushan SRI 1832
52 ACM Akuratiya A G Hansadie Aradhya SRI 1830
53 Christie Richie NZL 1822
54 Francis U M Senal Vishmin SRI 1822
55 AFM Jayasinghe Bonuka Minketh Si SRI 1813
56 Kamran Fardad PAK 1799
57 WCM Jayaweera Sayuni Gihansa SRI 1773
58 Gnanaseelan Jude Dorison SRI 1772
59 Chandula E D S SRI 1770
60 Jele Nkosikhona RSA 1766
61 Mujahid Bin Yazeed MDV 1764
62 Severin Martin RSA 1757
63 De Silva G W Githmal Gihansith SRI 1751
64 Jikijela Musa RSA 1742
65 Mohamed Raakin Fayaz MDV 1739
66 Hasansee P Y S SRI 1732
67 Raif Jafri PAK 1732
68 Ingado Mercy KEN 1689
69 AFM Pitigala Chandra Sudarman S. SRI 1684
70 WCM Mehak Gul PAK 1683
71 Ntsunguzi Siyamamkela FID 1671
72 Burbach Anya Belle MRI 1662
73 Manju Mahesh IND 1655
74 Gamaarachchi G A Senaree M I SRI 1638
75 Jayasinghe Adeesa Aminda SRI 1637
76 Waduge Kisali Chenulya SRI 1630
77 Tan Sue Anne MAS 1626
78 Burbach Bruno MRI 1624
79 Pate Methmi Hasana SRI 1614
80 AFM Aruneemaa H K SRI 1606
81 Gamage Senuka Lakvin SRI 1601
82 Karthigesu S SRI 1600
83 Chandrasena P W B G Siddharth Lo SRI 1588
84 Mohamed Rayyan Adam Shakir MDV 1557
85 Dinaya Resadi SRI 1553
86 Jikijela Anisha RSA 1546
87 Chandrasiri P K SRI 1531
88 Mkhize Gcina RSA 1526
89 Matshego Thato RSA 1520
90 Shordries Nkiyasi RSA 1519
91 Wen Sandy NZL 1513
92 Manto Martha RSA 1510
93 WFM Nuha Rilwan MDV 1506
94 Sibanda Andile Patience RSA 1495
95 Pahandi E W W K Sehasna SRI 1477
96 ACM Pathirana P A Nethumi Anudini SRI 1411
